New FST Cabaret Theatre To Open A Year Earlier

New Cabaret Theatre will open a whole year early thanks to some generous donors and a fortuitous construction schedule.

FST announced this week that the Cabaret Theatre will open Jan. 4 instead of January 2014 after the theater's board of directors approve the change.

"The turn of events that makes this possible include: successful fund raising, keeping to our basic construction timetables, a growing staff that's ready to meet the challenge, and last but not least, an extraordinarily enthusiastic FST audience that is bursting at the seams and rallying to our support," Artistic Director Richard Hopkins said. "We look forward to producing the best that the American Theatre has to offer this year in our four professional theatres located in the heart of downtown Sarasota.”

The Cabaret Theatre is inside the new , which also includes a new lab theater — John Court Theatre — that will open a year early in January 2014. The John Court Theatre will serve as the new home of FST Improv.

The wing broke ground in January while the Gompertz Theatre started renovations in late March as part of a $6.8 million fund-raising campaign for FST.

with the show Perfect Wedding, and the Gompertz will have its grand opening on Nov. 29.

The campaign also means naming rights to various parts of the new wing. The named spaces and donors are:

• The John Court Theatre (Georgia Court)
• The Eugene & Toby Halpern Balcony of The Cabaret Theatre (Eugene & Toby Halpern)
• The Israeloff Lobby (Robert and Bonny Israeloff)
• Georgia’s Johns (Theatre Restrooms, Georgia Court)
• Aaron Veranda (Gerri Aaron)
• Eisenbarth Terrace (Max Eisenbarth)
• Abromson Actor Kitchenette (Linda Abromson)
• Lupoff Box Office (Barbara J. Lupoff)
• Jerome and Sydney Goldstein Dressing Rooms (Gompertz Dressing Rooms, Jerome and Sydney Goldstein)
• Baisley Artist Loft (Jane Baisley)
• Full-Service Bar (Anonymous)
• Lab Theatre Men’s Dressing Room (Anonymous)

The New Gompertz Theatre Campaign

The New Gompertz Theatre is designed by Potvin Architects in collaboration with C. Alan Architect PA and NDC Construction. Schuler Shook of Chicago served as Theatre Consultants in the months leading up to construction and Siebein Associates, Inc are serving as Acoustical Consultants. 

The $6.8 million construction campaign includes:

• $4.2 million for renovation of The New Gompertz Theatre
• $1 million to pay for the property
• $1 million for endowment
• $633,000 for capital reserves

The construction project will include the following in the new 24,000 sq. foot facility:

• Expanded interior lobby space
• New large restrooms
• A full service cafe and bar
• Covered veranda seating and street-level seating
• Fully renovated Gompertz theatre auditorium featuring an increase in seating capacity to 237, increased accessible seating for handicapped patrons, larger stage space and wing space
• A New Cabaret Theatre, seating 130 people on two levels
• A New Lab Theatre, seating 100 people  on two levels
• A New Actors’ Loft featuring new dressing rooms, restrooms, green room, and additional facilities, plus a Rooftop Garden for actors and running crews 

FST’s construction project has the following projected timeline:

• Aug. 10: Performances began in the renovated Gompertz Theatre for Perfect Wedding, the second show of the 2012 Summer Season
• Nov. 29: Grand opening of the New Gompertz Theatre, cafe, and lobby space
• Dec. 7: Opening of Mainstage show number 2 in the Gompertz Theatre
• Jan. 4, 2013: Grand opening of the new Cabaret theatre space [2012/2013 Season]
• January 2014: Grand opening of the John Court Theatre space [2013/2014 Season]

Chart Source: Florida Studio Theatre